Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Whilst this isn't really a patch on the first outing for the "Sanderson" sisters, it's still quite a decent sequel that manages to reassemble Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy for some evil witchery. This time around it is 16th birthday girl "Becca" (Whitney Peak) and her best friend "Izzy" (Belinda Escobedo) who inadvertently disturb the witches using a magic candle. Needless to say, our tricky trio are ravenous for children to eat and are seeking a little bit of revenge too! It takes a bit too long for the the Divine Miss M and company to take to the screen, before that this is a rather muddled teenage affair, but once they are in full swing it is quite good fun with plenty of faux malevolence from "Winifred" and some mischief from her sisters once they discover that they, too, can zap folks. Ultimately, even the book of spells gets to choose it's own destiny - but whom will it follow? Star of the film is definitely "Billy Butcherson" - or his disembodied head, and a lively reversion of Blondie's "One Way or Another" gets the toes tapping away nicely too. This is an enjoyable family film that does what it sets out to do - entertain all in a gently, engaging and entirely forgettable fashion.